Economics (ECON)

This course provides an introduction to entry level statistical reasoning. Focus is placed on logical underpinnings of statistics to help students understand and evaluate research in popular and academic sources, with less focus on the use of software and mathematical formulas. This course fulfills the liberal arts core math and logic requirement and is appropriate for students who require a statistics course for their program, but do not intend to go further in statistics or economics. There is no math prerequisite for this course, but students should have a solid understanding of basic mathematical concepts. This course does not meet the statistics requirement for all majors and minors. Consult the academic catalog. Offered in the College for Adults. Credit is given for only one of the following courses: ECON 1080, ECON 1090, HLTH 1090, PSYC 1090 or STAT 1090.

ECON 1090 Statistical Analysis for Decision Making — 4 credits

This course covers the basic theory and practice of using statistics to guide decision making. Topics include descriptive statistics, probability, sampling, hypothesis testing, and regression. Focus is on real world public policy and business examples. The course also develops students' Excel skills to prepare them to conduct statistical analysis in government, advocacy, business, and industry settings. This course fulfills the liberal arts core mathematics/statistics requirement and is appropriate for students majoring in business, economics, political science, sociology, or any major that requires statistics. Offered in the College for Women and the College for Adults. Prerequisites: High school higher algebra and appropriate level on mathematics/statistics placement assessment or ACT math score or a grade of C- or better in MATH 1010. Credit is given for only one of the following courses: ECON 1080, ECON 1090, HLTH 1090, PSYC 1090 or STAT 1090.

ECON 1120 Economics of Social Issues — 4 credits

This course involves the study of important relationships between economic growth, equity and public policies. It offers an economic perspective on current domestic and global social problems. Topics include crime, discrimination, inequality, the welfare system, social security, education, poverty, unemployment, health care, international trade and globalization. Also offered as WOST 1121, CRST 1120. Offered in the College for Women.

ECON 2610 Principles of Microeconomics — 4 credits

Economics is a social science that constructs and analyzes models of human behavior, particularly as it pertains to the consumption and production of goods and services in a world of scarce resources. This course will focus on the foundational concepts in microeconomics, such as market structures, prices, consumer and firm behavior, spillovers, and trade. Students learn how to apply economic reasoning to business and public policy decisions making this course an excellent foundation for upper-level study in economics, business and policy. This course is required for all economics-related majors and for most business-related majors. It is also an excellent social science elective for students from any major. Offered in the College for Women and the College for Adults.

ECON 2620 Principles of Macroeconomics — 4 credits

Economics is the only field in which two people can share a Nobel Prize for saying opposing things. This course will teach students basic of macroeconomic vocabulary and theories and provide a foundation for understanding conflicting views on important policies. Students will learn about rising prices, interest rates, unemployment, the size of the economy, why recessions occur and what central banks do. This course is required for all economics-related majors and for many business and political science majors as well. It is also an excellent social science elective for students from any major. Offered in the College for Women and the College for Adults. Recommended:ECON 2610.

ECON 2900 Topics in Healthcare Economics — 4 credits

This course provides a broad overview of the institutions that provide healthcare and examines some of the economic factors that affect the provision of healthcare in the United States. Government policies toward the healthcare sector and government interventions in the sector are examined and compared to alternative models around the globe. Designed for non-economists who plan to work in the healthcare field or who wish to study the economics of healthcare. A good elective course for social sciences and/or nursing majors. Offered in the College for Women and the College for Adults.

ECON 2994 Topics — 4 credits

The subject matter of the course is announced in the annual schedule of classes. Content varies from year to year but does not duplicate existing courses.

Stakeholders need to know whether projects, policies or programs are producing the intended effect. Quantitative program evaluation is the collection, analysis and use of data to assess effectiveness and efficiency. In this course students will design, execute and present data-based analyses. We will use statistics to isolate causal impacts using both experimental and quasi-experimental methods. We will study projects, policies and programs in the United States and abroad and draw examples from many disciplines including education, public health, economics, business, sociology and political science. The quantitative skills developed in this course are highly sought after by employers in both non-profit and for-profit settings. This course is open to students from any major and is good preparation for upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses that have research components. Offered in the College for Women and the College for Adults.
Prerequisite: One of the following - ECON 1080, ECON 1090, PSYC 1090, STAT 1090. Also offered as WOST 3051.

ECON 3350 Financial Markets and Institutions — 4 credits

This course covers the nature, evolution and functions of money; the role of depository institutions; the structure of financial markets; the principles of central banking; monetary theory; and the instruments of monetary policy. Required for financial economics majors and an excellent elective for other social science and business majors. Offered in the College for Women and the College for Adults.
Prerequisite:ECON 2620.

This course explores the role of poverty and inequality in the process of economic development and growth. Students will examine the impact of social, political, and economic factors on poverty and how these factors relate to economic growth in developing countries. Topics include international financing of economic development, human and natural resources and their role in the development of economies, monetary policy and international aid. The emphasis of this course is on the role of women in national development and how this can impact the overall economy and economic stability of a developing country. Offered in the College for Women and the College for Adults. Prerequisite:ECON 1120 or ECON 2610 or ECON 2620. Also offered as CRST 3451 and WOST 3452.

ECON 3460W Global Financial Issues — 4 credits

This course covers institutional and theoretical issues in international finance; foreign exchange markets, currency futures and options markets, balance of payments and international economic linkages. It also examines foreign exchange risk management, multinational finances and foreign investment analyses. Required for financial economics majors and an excellent elective for other social science and business majors. Offered in the College for Women and the College for Adults. Prerequisites:ECON 1090, ECON 2610, ECON 2620.

ECON 3480W International Economics: Trade and Immigration — 4 credits

This course provides an in depth exploration of the economics of international trade and immigration. The first half of the course covers the foundations of trade theory and also examines international trade agreements, tariff and non-tariff trade barriers, and U.S. trade policy as well trade policy of other nations. The second half of the course studies international factor movements primarily focusing on economic and political forces that shape the flows of people across borders. Offered in the College for Women and the College for Adults.
Prerequisites:ECON 2610, ECON 2620.

ECON 3610 Microeconomic Theory — 4 credits

Microeconomics is the study of how households and firms make choices. We will examine choices related to consumer behavior (as prices and income change how do buying habits adjust?), producer behavior (as technologies change how do production decisions adjust?), worker behavior (if wages go up do people work more or less?) and choices made under uncertainty (how do households and firms deal with risk?). We will use calculus-based models of constrained choice to examine the tradeoffs faced when making these and other economic decisions. We will also use basic game theory to explore competitive strategies and develop a model of general equilibrium and economic efficiency. Required for economics majors and an excellent upper level elective for other social science and also math majors. Offered in the College for Women. Prerequisites:MATH 1130, ECON 2610 (will allow high school calculus and/or high school economics to meet these prerequisites).

ECON 3620 Macroeconomic Theory — 4 credits

Should we cut taxes or increase government spending to solve recessions? Should we invest in education or infrastructure to promote growth? This course is a treatment of such macroeconomic questions, answering them with theories and data. Topics include growth, money, interest, income, government expenditures, inflation, and unemployment. We will use calculus-based models of constrained choice to examine the tradeoffs faced when making economic policy decisions. Students will assess the factors contributing to different countries’ growth using real-world data. The course focuses on fiscal and monetary policy options for achieving economic goals. Offered in the College for Women. Prerequisite:ECON 2620.

ECON 3650 Investment Theories — 4 credits

This course is an introduction to the world of investment decision making and portfolio management. It also covers the general environment for the investment process; different portfolio and asset allocation approaches; and security valuation. Required for financial economics majors and an excellent elective for other social science and business majors. Offered in the College for Women and the College for Adults. Prerequisite:ECON 2620.

Structured out-of-class learning experience that takes place on or off campus and includes a substantial work component. An internship involves students in a particular profession in an exploratory way to test career interests and potential. To initiate an internship experience, meet with the internship coordinator in the Career Development Office. Prerequisites: Faculty sponsorship and approval by department chair.

ECON 4604 Internship — 4 credits

Structured out-of-class learning experience that takes place on or off campus and includes a substantial work component. An internship involves students in a particular profession in an exploratory way to test career interests and potential. To initiate an internship experience, meet with the internship coordinator in the Career Development Office. Prerequisites: Faculty sponsorship and approval by department chair.

ECON 4684 Directed Study — 4 credits

Directed study is provided for students whose unusual circumstances prohibit taking a regularly scheduled course but who need the material of that course to satisfy a requirement. Availability of this faculty-directed learning experience depends on faculty time and may be limited in any given term and restricted to certain courses. Prerequisites: Faculty, department chair and dean approval.

ECON 4850 Seminar in International Business and Financial Economics — 4 credits

This is a seminar offered to seniors who have already finished coursework in introductory and intermediate economics and business including courses in economics, international trade, global financial management, accounting, marketing and management. This capstone course will help students integrate learning from previous courses in the program, and develop a broad perspective on the discipline of financial economics and international business and economics. The seminar involves directed readings, case study applications and discussions on economic aspects of the international system. This course relies heavily on participation by guest lecturers in business, finance and economics. Offered in the College for Women and the College for Adults. Prerequisites:ECON 3450, ECON 3460W, ECON 3480W.

ECON 4914 Research — 4 credits

A senior thesis written under the direction of a member of the faculty: literature search, data collection, statistical analysis, writing of text. Prerequisites: Permission of instructor.

ECON 4952 Independent Study — 2 credits

Independent study offers students the opportunity for specialized research not covered in a course offering, by the action project or thesis. Students work with a faculty advisor to develop a learning contract, which specifies the content and objectives of the study as well as the requirements and procedures for evaluation. The amount of credit earned for the study also is included in the learning contract. Prerequisites: Permission of the faculty and department chair or program director.

ECON 4954 Independent Study — 4 credits

Independent study offers students the opportunity for specialized research not covered in a course offering, by the action project or thesis. Students work with a faculty advisor to develop a learning contract, which specifies the content and objectives of the study as well as the requirements and procedures for evaluation. The amount of credit earned for the study also is included in the learning contract. Prerequisites: Permission of the faculty and department chair or program director.

ECON 4994 Topics — 4 credits

The subject matter of the course is announced in the annual schedule of classes. Content varies from year to year but does not duplicate existing courses.